Think twice about going for that dip at the local swimming hole, there could be dangerous bacteria and even industrial chemicals in the water.
The Department of Health in Lee County Thursday issued an advisory warning the public against swimming at local beaches or in swimming pools because of an elevated risk of waterborne illnesses.
“Residents are urged to avoid contact with floodwaters which come from an overflow of any waterbody from rivers, lakes, or oceans,” DOH said in an email. “Floodwater may contain fecal matter from sewage systems and septic tanks, in addition to agricultural and industrial waste.”
Calusa Waterkeeper and water quality expert John Cassani said the public should stay out of waterways until conditions improve.
“I still think you’re taking a significant risk going into the water right now,” Cassani said. “You can’t even drink your tap water, why would you get in the source?”
Boil-water notices were posted for most of Southwest Florida in the wake of Ian.
“Most of the risk factors are based on primary contact, and that’s if you get water in your mouth, nose or ears,” Cassani said. “You have to ingest the water, but we have people apparently catching vibrio from cuts just by wading in the water.”
Calusa Waterkeeper plans to order fecal coliform test kits to distribute to the public starting next week.
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